LA Chargers: The great, good and ugly from win over Denver Broncos
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers won their third consecutive game with a 19-16 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Three weeks ago the LA Chargers were dismantled by the New England Patriots 45-0 to move to 3-9 on the season and officially end their playoff bid. To the credit of the players, the team did not simply punt on the season and have turned in three consecutive wins as a result.
The Bolts have won all three games by exactly three points and have moved to 6-9 on the season. With the Kansas City Chiefs already clinching the number one seed in the AFC, there is a decent chance that the Chargers play Kansas City’s second-stringers and finish the season just one game below .500 at 7-9.
That is not totally indicative of the kind of season this was, as it was tremendously disappointing, but at least Justin Herbert could get some wins under his belt for year two.
Speaking of Justin Herbert, as this was a win, not a loss, I present you with the great, the good and the ugly from this win.
The great from the LA Chargers’ win:
Justin Herbert breaking the rookie passing touchdown record
Justin Herbert himself was not spectacular in this game but he was also playing without Keenan Allen and Hunter Henry and was not getting favorable play calls (more on that later). Herbert completed 21 of 33 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown.
Herbert’s overall game is not the reason for him being on the great portion of this article, it is the fact that the one touchdown pass he did have — to Austin Ekeler — broke the tie with Baker Mayfield for the most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in NFL history.
Herbert now has 28 passing touchdowns on the season with a legitimate chance of 30 total after Week 17. He already passed 4,000 passing yards, which means that he could have just the ninth season in Chargers’ history with 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.
It has been incredible to watch Herbert succeed this season after being thrown to the wolves. It is going to be even more incredible to watch him grow as a player moving forward.